Under the Professional Accountants By-law 41(3), "practical experience" (實際經驗) for the HKICPA membership admission means experience whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere acceptable to the Council as an employee of a person practising public accountancy or in the financial or management accountancy department of an organisation in industry, commerce or the public service or in a similar department. The HKICPA Council further rules that:

(a)	Employment period of less than 12 months will not be counted as part of the practical experience.

(b)	Part-time experience will not be counted as part of the practical experience.

The Institute first introduced the new Practical Experience Framework in 2002 on a voluntary basis and it has become mandatory in 2005. Practical experience gained by HKICPA registered students on or after 1 January 2005 and by applicants from other recognised bodies, if applicable, on or after 1 July 2005 must be under the Institute's Authorised Employer or Authorised Supervisor complying with the Practical Experience Framework requirements.

Non-Authorised Employer/Authorised Supervisor experience in accountancy acquired on or before 1 January 2005 (for HKICPA registered students) or 1 July 2005 (for other prospective members) may also be recognised under the old system (i.e. the system before the introduction of the Practical Experience Framework). Applicants are required to furnish the Institute with relevant work testimonials and/or HKICPA Student's Training Record Book ("STRB") to support their membership application.

For experience acquired under Authorised Employer/Authorised Supervisor, applicants are required to use the Prospective Member's Record of Practical Experience for Membership Admission ("Training Records") to record their experience.

Recognition of practical experience acquired outside Hong Kong before the mandatory implementation of the Authorised Employer/Authorised Supervisor Practical Experience Framework for HKICPA registered students on 1 January 2005 or for applicants from other recognised bodies on 1 July 2005:-

(a)	The practical experience acquired in a country whose accountancy profession is under the jurisdiction of an accepted accountancy body may be fully accepted, i.e. Australia, Canada, Ireland, Mainland China, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.

(b)	The accounting experience obtained in an office not situated in Hong Kong nor a territory under a recognised jurisdiction ("Overseas Office") may be accepted in full if:

	i.	the Overseas Office is that of (i) a Hong Kong entity or a branch/subsidiary thereof, or (ii) an entity operating in a recognised jurisdiction or a branch/subsidiary thereof; and
	ii.	the applicant's work relates to the accounting practices of Hong Kong or those of a recognised jurisdiction; and
	iii.	the applicant works under the direct supervision of a member of the HKICPA or a recognised institute.

(c)	If an applicant cannot fulfill all three criteria above, at the discretion of the Council, not more than half of his/her experience may be recognised up to a maximum of 18 months.

(d)	Experience gained in the branch office of a Hong Kong CPA practice is considered as satisfying the three criteria for non-Hong Kong experience.

Recognition of practical experience acquired outside Hong Kong after 1 January 2005 (for HKICPA registered students) or 1 July 2005 (for other prospective members):-

(a)	Practical experience may be recognised if it is gained under an Authorised Employer/Authorised Supervisor.

(b)	Practical experience acquired from a training organisation accredited by an overseas accountancy body with which the Institute has entered into a Reciprocal Membership Agreement may also be accepted. However, the accredited training organisation is required to provide training to the prospective members in accordance with the competency requirements of the HKICPA Practical Experience Framework and to complete the HKICPA Training Records.